Circular 0107/2007
To the
Managerial Authorities of Primary and
Implementation
of Modernisation under Sustaining Progress
Standardisation of the
School Year in
respect of Primary & Post-Primary Schools for the years 2008/9, 2009/10 and
2010/11
In
line with the requirements of Sustaining Progress agreement has been reached
between the parties to the Teachers' Conciliation Council in relation to the
standardisation of the breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term in the first and
second terms for the school years 2008/9, 2009/10 and 2010/11.
In
reaching agreement the parties took cognizance of a number of relevant factors:
the objective of avoiding
problems for families which can be caused by variation in closure arrangements
where children are attending different schools
the requirement for a school to
be open for a minimum of 167 days at post-primary level and 183 days at primary
level
the date of the bank holiday in
June and in consequence the effective end of the school year and commencement
date of the Certificate Examinations
the proximity of St. Patrick's
Day to Easter
the
difference in the length of the school year at primary and post-primary level
and the potential for a lengthy final term in the primary sector depending on
when Easter falls
the timing of the bank holiday
in October
how proximate Christmas Day is
in relation to a week-end
the desirability of having a
reasonable interval between the end of term and Christmas
The
agreement reached covers the arrangements that will apply in all schools from
the start of the 2008/2009 school year and covers three school years. The
parties will review the operation of the arrangements not later than spring of
2010 for the purpose of agreeing the arrangements that will apply subsequently
and have agreed that in the event that any unforeseen difficulty arises in
relation to the operation of the arrangements now agreed the matter can be
raised at the Teachers Conciliation Council.
Schools are required to be open to receive all pupils on the
weekday immediately preceding and immediately following each break period
covered by this agreement.
School Year 2008/09
October 2008 mid-term
break
All schools will close
from 27th to 31st October 2008 inclusive
Christmas 2008
All schools will close on 23rd December 2008 which will be
the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on 7th
January 2009.
February 2009 mid-term break
Post-Primary
schools will close from 16th to 20th February 2009
inclusive. Primary schools will close from 16th to 17th
February 2009 inclusive or 19th
to 20th inclusive. (Primary schools may use 3
discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day
break).
Easter 2009
All schools will close on 3rd April 2009 which will be the final day
of the school term. All schools will re-open on 20th April
2009.
School Year 2009/10
October 2009 mid-term break
All schools will close from 26th to 30th
October 2009 inclusive
Christmas 2009
All schools will close on 22nd December 2009 which will be
the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on 7th
January 2010
February 2010 mid-term break
Post-Primary
schools will close from 15th to 19th February 2010
inclusive. Primary schools will close from 15th to 16th
February 2010 inclusive or 18th
to 19th inclusive. (Primary schools may use 3
discretionary days to extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day
break).
Easter 2010
All
schools will close on 26th March 2010 which will be the final day of
the school term. All schools will re-open on 12th April 2010.
School Year 2010/11
October 2010 mid-term break
All schools will close from 25th to 29th
October 2010 inclusive
Christmas 2010
All schools will close on 23rd December 2010 which will be
the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on 10th
January 2011
February 2011 mid-term break
Post-Primary
schools will close from 21st to 25th February 2011
inclusive. Primary schools will close from 21st to 22nd
February 2011 inclusive or 24th
to 25th inclusive. (Primary schools may use 3 discretionary days to
extend this break to an alternative option of a 5 day break).
Easter 2011
All schools will close on 15th April 2011 which will
be the final day of the school term. All schools will re-open on 3rd
May 2011.
Religious Observance and standardisation
The above
arrangements are agreed without prejudice to closure on specific days, within
the overall requirement of 167 days at post primary level and 183 days at
primary level, dictated by religious observance that is required in schools
under the patronage of different denominations or faiths.
In the
absence of an adequate number of discretionary days a school authority may
choose to utilize a religious observance day for non-tuition purposes when
planning the school year.
Extent of flexibility
It was not
a requirement of this agreement that the commencement or end of the school year
either at primary or post primary level should be standardised. However while schools may use their
discretionary days, where available, to determine the precise start and end of
the school year, it is recognised the commencement of Certificate examinations
will mean that post primary schools will not be open for tuition beyond the
Friday preceding the June bank holiday in any year.
The
expectation is that in order to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of
167 at post primary level or 183 days at primary level the school year will
normally commence in the week that 1st September falls.
The arrangements may provide some limited
flexibility to schools on certain other days outside of the defined
periods. The scheduling of such days
must not be used to extend or modify the periods set out above in respect of
mid-term and Christmas and Easter breaks save where religious observance
requirements of a school under a particular patronage make this necessary.
You are requested to provide a copy
of this Circular to the parents’ and teachers’ representatives on Boards of
Management.
Matthew
Ryan,
Principal
Officer.
11th
December, 2007